President Ready to Implement US-Suggested Election Guideline

(Tbilisi, July 7, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Georgian President Shevardnadze said in his Monday radiobroadcast on July 7 that he is ready to implement the US-suggested election guidelines delivered by former US Secretary of State James Baker during his visit in Georgia on July 5-6.
 
?This project was not new for me and I believe that its implementation will promote holding fair elections. We have proposed this model long ago,? President Shevardnadze said.
 
He is ready to meet with the opposition leaders in the State Chancellery on July 8 to discuss the technical side of the US guidelines.
 
?Suggestion of the election guidelines by the US Administration does not mean interference in Georgia?s internal affairs. Just on the contrary, the visit of such a high-rank politician to Tbilisi confirms the huge interest of the United States towards our country. The US has greatly contributed to the development of democratic processes in our country, hence it has the right to interfere in election process,? the President said.

According to the US proposal, the CEC should be composed of five representatives of the pro-Presidential political parties, opposition parties will be represented in the commission with nine members. The Chairman of the CEC will be appointed by the OSCE.

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